Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-08

Protest of Growers and Dealers
Against the Presidents
suggestions.
by telegraph to the DlsDatch.l

tBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, December THE con-
ference of wool-growers and dealers
called by the president Of the National
Association Of Wool-Growers, now in
session here, adopted to-day the follow
ing "The wool dealers and wool-grow-
ers of the United States, representing II
capital of over $500, 100000 and a con-
stltuency of a million wool-growers and
wool-dealers, assembled in conference in
the city of Washington, the 7th day of
December, 1887, having read the annual
message OF the President to the Fiitieth
Congress, declare that the sentiments of
the message are direct attack upon
their industry, one of the most I'M
portant OF the country, and in positive
violation of the national Democratic
platform of 1884 as interpreted by the
party leaders and accepted by the rank
and file of the party that the argument
made by the President for the removal
OF our protection against foreign compe-
tition is an old one repeatedly made by
the enemies OF our industrial progress
and effectively answered in nearly every
school district of our land, and 50 tho
roughly disproved by the logic of
facts and demonstratiye experience
and history as to need no an
swer from us. We acknowledge that
our 'small holdings our scattered
and unorganized condition, make us the
easy prey of Free Traders, but We had a
right TO expect something different from
the Chief Executive of the nation, at
once the most happy, prosperous, and
contented of any Of the world-made so
by policy OF protection and develop
ment which he now seeks to destroy.
We had right to expect that our Presl-
dent would favor the wOol-growers OF the
United states, and confess our deep dis
appointment that instead he favored
the interests OF our foreign competitors.
Justly alarmed at his position We make
an appeal from his recommendation TO
all the people to seven aud three iourths
millions Of our fellow-citizens engaged
in agriculture TO millions engaged IN
manufacturing to the army OF wage
earners whose wages are maintained by
a protective system to the tradesman
and merchant, whose prosperity depends
upon ours, confident that judgment and
decision will be based upon justice and
patriotism, and therefore for the malnte-
nance of the American policy OF protec-
ton, 10 which the country 49, In
debted for its unexampled develop
ment and prosperity. To demon
strate the injustice OF the Presidents
policy and the fallacy OF the remedy he
proposes for the reductions Of the surplus
we point to the fact that II the whole
amount of revenue derived from wool
was abolished it would reduce the sur
plus about $4,000 coo, or less Than 10
cents per capita of the population, which
is paid by foreigners whh. the old war
taxes he recommended to be retained
yielded over $4,000, 600, and IS
direct tax per capita OF - each
and IS what makes mp the great DulS
OF surplus OF $4,000, 600, aud which
fosters the most dangerous monopoly
We would further add the following sta
tistics IN regard to the wool Industry
The annual revenue derived from tue
imports OF wool under the tirin OK Ioo'
was less than 81, 100000. Under the re-
duced tariff OF 1883 the revenue last year
was over S5,0O0,00o. The lumber OF
sheep In the country in 1884 was o.
626, GIG ; in 1897, Al, 759. 3l4-a decrease
OF nearly 6.000,000 and a dimlnutlon
OF the annual wool product OF over 3D.
100000 pounds, thus showing that re-
ducing the tariff by the act OF 1883 has
increased the revenue from imported
woods aud diminished the number OF
sheep in the United States ABOUT ~ per
cent and the annual production 10 the
same proportion. The Presidents peii-